Editorial by Matt Marquardt –
A sweet gig has recently opened up in Mason City that pays well over $100,000 a year.
The North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation is seeking an experienced economic developer to serve as President and CEO after Brent Willett moved on to Des Moines.
Among the listed requirements on the city of Mason City’s website for potential candidates, are a valid driver’s license, the ability to lift 25 lbs, and a college degree.
This “experienced economic developer” will be bestowed with the esteemed pleasure of rubbing elbows with Chamber of Commerce Director Robin Anderson on a daily basis. The CEO will pay her a paltry rent of over $26,000 a year to use her $2 million offices in downtown Mason City.
The job description says that the Corridor is advancing a coordinated regional economic development strategy, a coordinated regional brand to promote the region’s assets, and a coordinated regional business program to stimulate capital investment and job creation. Topping its list of achievements is moving several businesses across town, asking for and receiving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars every year, and the crown jewel, a few dozen jobs that pay about $9.50 an hour that enrich the people of North Iowa.
The Corridor CEO & President will also serve as the primary spokesperson for the organization and is a tireless promoter of the North Iowa region to local, statewide, national and international audiences, the job description says, and is allowed a lot of leeway to do so. For example, the CEO is allowed to hire a sub-500 college coach at a cost of thousands of dollars to deliver a pep talk to Corridor board members and financial contributors.
The President & CEO serves as a key leadership team member and reports to the Board of Directors. This position oversees all activities related to the organization’s operations.
One of the less-than-pleasant moments on the job might include sticking up for elected officials who make sure your operation is funded every year by the taxpayers.
The job description also says that the CEO “will demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, honesty and openness”.
That could mean that the CEO may someday be asked by elected officials to release detailed information to the public regarding its activities and expenditures… but that hasn’t happened in years. That’s where the “private” side of the business kicks in and protects the Corridor from nosy citizens, so no worries there. The CEO will just have to talk fast and use big words when it asks for funding every year.
The CEO will need to “build and effectively lead a dedicated team that is committed to the development and execution of economic development initiatives”. Exactly what this staff does all day is anyone’s guess, and the CEO isn’t really held accountable by anyone, so the candidate won’t really have to worry about delivering results there. To cover for job creation shortfalls of the agency, the CEO will be required to attend city council and supervisor meetings (which the public largely ignores) and at each meeting, claim to have brought larger numbers of jobs, investment and overall economic development to the area. The newspaper and radio will report the numbers as truth, never investigate nor criticize the agency, and in 1-3 years, the CEO will have a polished resume and be able to move on to greener pastures.
Interested parties should submit resume and supporting materials by April 28, 2014 to Gary Schmit (head of the largest construction company in the county) at gary@henkelconstruction.com. Schmit can be contacted at 641-423-5674 for questions.
